Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Cheap Picks for the Cold Front

My girl Lindsay is back with more skincare tips for the winter. I can always count on her for natural and organic product recommendations. She does the research and reads the product labels so we don't have to.

East Coast girls know that the winter months can be especially frigid and detrimental to our skin, hair and scalp. Central heat, space heaters and hot showers are just some of the factors that exacerbate the issue and lead to more dryness, itching, and flakes – yuck TMI!

After last winter, the sudden chill in the air has inspired me to research the warmest coats and boots and more importantly the best skin and hair care products to offset the winter dryness – minus chemicals and preservatives of course! Here are my findings and recommendations.


Extracted from a tree, this fatty substance is solid at room temperature and melts at body temperature to provide many natural skin benefits such as moisturizing, healing, anti-aging and sun protection. Shea butter is easily absorbed by the skin but does not clog pores and suffocate skin like many mainstream skin protectants such as petroleum jelly. Opt for the 100% pure, raw, unrefined kind to provide the most benefits such as the Organic Shea Butter Tin by Out of Africa.  I apply it to my hands every day before bedtime and find that it keeps my hands and cuticles soft and smooth as well as repairs dry cracked skin faster than anything else. Shea butter is also a fabulous natural alternative to lip balm!

More commonly known as a non-toxic cleaner around the house, baking soda removes bacteria from the skin and doubles as an exfoliator. Add a few teaspoons to your favorite cleanser to create a fantastic face scrub and eliminate the flakes. You can also combine a few teaspoons with just water to craft a more natural skin exfoliator for your face and body as well as a scalp clarifying rinse. I recommend using no more than once a week and following with a moisturizer to prevent over drying of the skin.

Cold process soap is very different than most commercial soaps and body washes since it contains glycerin, a natural skin humectant instead of sulfates, which are detergents that can strip your skin. Did you know that sulfates are the same foam forming ingredients found in many laundry detergents and dishwasher soaps?It makes sense to choose sulfate free products to boost softer, smoother and more hydrated skin. I like using cold process soap along with a loofa since it provides cleansing while exfoliating benefits. You can pick up cold process soap at your local farmers market or choose from a vast variety online at Etsy. Remember that keeping the duration and water temperature of your shower to a minimum will also help skin retain moisture.

Soma is a superior hair care line that boasts organic products of the highest quality. Everything is vegan, biodegradable, hypoallergenic, organic, sulfate/alcohol/paraben/formaldehyde free and has an optimal 4.5-5.5 pH level (anything higher can dry out hair and lead to frizz). In addition most of Soma’s products incorporate proteins into their ingredients to strengthen hair. I swear by their Moisture Shampoo, Reconstruct Deep Conditioner and Leave in Conditioner spray, and use all of these each time I wash my hair. I also recommend many of their styling products, particularly the Rage Out Styling Cream to achieve a salon worthy blow out.

Every time I see Lindsay (she lives in Boston) I swear I run out and buy new products. I gave Lindsay's Soma trio a trial run in Lake Placid and was impressed with the results. Placing an order once my current supply depletes. Have any natural products to add to Lindsay's list?
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8 comments

  1. Thanks for the tips! I didn't know that about arm and hammer baking soda...how cool is that?

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  2. Wonderful tips! I definitely think I want to get a couple bars of that soap! xo

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  3. love the pic! i need something for my dry face!

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  4. Definitely making a scrub out of baking soda -- great idea!

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  5. Stay warm and dry during our "storm" tonight...

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  6. SO great meeting you last night! We'll have to do it again VERY soon ;)
    fashiontruffles.blogspot.com

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  7. fabulous tips. thanks for another wonderful post, love. xo

    www.fashboulevard.blogspot.com

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  8. I love that baking soda tip. Thanks!

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